Close Window Shortcut (Alt+F4 / ⌘W)
Close the active window with ⌘W on Mac and Ctrl+W (or Alt+F4 to close the app) on Windows. Here it is with quit.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close window | ⌘W | Ctrl+W | |
| Close app entirely | ⌘Q | Alt+F4 | |
| Close tab | ⌘W | Ctrl+W | |
| Close all windows (app) | ⌘⌥W | — | |
| Reopen closed tab | ⌘⇧T | Ctrl+Shift+T |
Close a window vs quit the app
On Windows Ctrl+W closes the current window, tab or document, while Alt+F4 quits the whole application. On the Mac ⌘W closes the front window and ⌘Q quits the app — a distinction Windows mostly lacks.
Careful with Alt+F4
Alt+F4 closes with no confirmation in many apps, so save first. To close every window of a Mac app at once, use ⌘⌥W.
FAQ
What is the close-window shortcut?
On Windows Ctrl+W closes the window or tab and Alt+F4 quits the app. On the Mac ⌘W closes the window and ⌘Q quits the app.
What is the difference between ⌘W and ⌘Q?
⌘W closes just the front window; ⌘Q quits the entire application and all its windows.
How do I reopen a window I closed by accident?
In browsers press Ctrl+Shift+T (⌘⇧T on Mac) to reopen the last closed tab or window.